In 1983, Dana Daniels was hired to perform magic, juggling and comedy in the streets of the "Happiest Place on Earth", Disneyland. Being a huge fan of Wally Boag's, he found himself in his down time watching the Golden Horseshoe Revue in Frontierland. He soon became a substitute playing the Pecos Bill role in the Golden Horseshoe's Revue Show and performing juggling and magic two days a week.

It was while attending a performance of the Broadway hit, "Sugar Babies" starring Mickey Rooney that Daniels first thought of a psychic parrot act.

Later, he heard about an audition for a touring company of the popular show. Dancers were to audition in person; variety acts by video tape. Dana packed up his act, dressed in full costume, and rove down to the dancers audition. With a carpetbag in one hand and a parrot in the other, he patiently waited in a hallway filled with aspiring and perspiring dancers. Each held a resume in one hand and a cigarette in the other, and all of them stared at Dana like he was from Mars.

In 1994, Disneyland had decided to close its long running show, The Golden Horseshoe Jamboree and replaced it with Billy Hill and the Hillbillies who would be working 5 days a week from Thursday through Monday. Remembering the popularity of his psychic parrot, Dana approached Disney Entertainment about the possibility of doing his one man (and bird) show in the Golden Horseshoe the remaining two days a week that the Hillbillies were not performing.

The first performance of the Golden Horseshoe Variety Show starring Dana Daniels was performed on Tuesday, June 13, 1995. Dana wrote the show himself and with the help of several different side man/ pianist and his favorite sidekick, his parrot, Luigi, the Golden Horseshoe Variety Show was born.

Dana still does a version of this show in his act today entitled THE NO SHOW. for more information on Dana Daniels, go to his website @ www.danadaniels.com

Golden Horseshoe lead,

​Scott Evans

The janitor enters

Clem the Hillbilly Juggler

The Golden Horseshoe Opening Marquee

THE FINAL SHOW:

Nothing ever stays the same at Disneyland and after an eight year run, on Wednesday, October 8, 2003, The Golden Horseshoe Variety Show starring Dana Daniels performed it's final show at 5:30 pm after more than 4,000 performances.

Guests at the final performance included Dana's wife, Jane and their two children; many fellow castmembers, his former piano player, Richard Allen; original sound man, Bobby Davis; many fans and friends (including myself) and special guest, Wally Boag, the man who many years before had inspired Dana to pursue his career in show business.

The final show opens with an intro by Dana's current pianist, Hal Ratliff.

Following the show, New Orleans' Square's own Side Effects pay a musical tribute to Dana. Legendary Disney comedian, Wally Boag ( a Disney Legend's Honoree and Dana's mentor) was asked to stand and agreed to speak to the guests for about 10 minutes. He shared his memories of his days with the Golden Horseshoe Revue, including his meeting of Dana and fellow comedian, Steve Martin. He told us of his work in Disney Enchanted Tiki Room as Jose, the Parrot and told stories of those days, as well as voicing a few "jose" quotes used in the Tiki Room attraction.

On a personal note ~ After many years of meticulously researching the information for both this page and the History of the Golden Horseshoe Revue page, I finally realized my dream that day to meet the star of the original show, Wally Boag. I had been corresponding with him occasionally and he appreciated my Golden Horseshoe webpages thanks to Dana Daniels and Gene Sands mentioning my website to him. Also thank you to Golden Horseshoe lead, Scott Evans for giving me the courage to pose for a picture with Wally.

Dana, on behalf of all your fans, we'd like to thank you for all the years all laughter and entertainment you have provided us during your time at the Golden Horseshoe Saloon.

Wally enjoying some cake with Dana

Luigi doing the can-can

SHOW OVERVIEW:

The Golden Horseshoe Variety Show opens with a friendly Piano player who begins by warming up the audience with some lively music. He is interrupted by the Golden Horseshoe Saloon janitor who informs him that the entire cast of the Variety Show has gone missing. Realizing that the missing performers need to be replaced, the janitor agrees to replace the missing acts. Among them are Waldo the Magnificent (who does balloon tricks), Clem the Hillybilly Juggler, and a magician who performs with Luigi, the "psychic parrot in a banana tree".​​

The Magician

A musical Interlude

ATTENTION FORMER GOLDEN HORSESHOE CASTMEMBERS AND PERFORMERS!

If you were a former Golden Horseshoe Saloon castmember, technician, musician or performer and worked in any of the following shows: